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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.           )

Filed by the Registranto

Filed by a Party other than the Registranto

Check the appropriate box:

o

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

ý

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

 

Definitive Additional Materials

o

 

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

SIMPSON MANUFACTURING CO.Simpson Manufacturing Co., INC.Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
     
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

ý

 

No fee requiredrequired.

o

 

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-110-11.
  (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
        

  (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
        

  (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
        

  (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
        

  (5) Total fee paid:
        


o

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

 

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

 

(1)

 

Amount Previously Paid:
        

  (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
        

  (3) Filing Party:
        

  (4) Date Filed:
        



SIMPSON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.

4120 Dublin Blvd., Suite 400
Dublin, California 94568

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Our Stockholders:

        The annual meeting of stockholders of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Pacific StandardDaylight Time, on March 31, 2003,Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at the Company's home office located at 4120 Dublin Blvd., Suite 400, Dublin, California, for the following purposes:

        1.     To elect two directors to the Company's Board of Directors, each to hold office for a three-year term and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.

        2.     To consider and act uponon a proposal to approveamend the Company's Executive Officer Cash Profit Sharing Plan.Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance from 40,000,000 shares to 80,000,000 shares

        3.     To consider and act upon a proposal to approve an amendment to the Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan to limit to 150,000 the number of shares subject to a grant of stock options to any employee during a calendar year.

        4.    To consider and act uponon a proposal to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent accountantsauditors for the current fiscal year.

        5.4.     To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

        Only stockholders of record as of January 30, 2003,February 9, 2004, are entitled to notice of and will be entitled to vote at this meeting or any adjournment thereof.



BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS



Michael J. Herbert
Secretary

Dublin, California
February 28, 2003March 5, 2004




SIMPSON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.

4120 Dublin Blvd., Suite 400
Dublin, California 94568
February 28, 2003March 5, 2004

PROXY STATEMENT

Solicitation and Voting of Proxies

        The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at the Company's home office located at 4120 Dublin Blvd., Suite 400, Dublin, California, on March 31, 2003,Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at 2:00 p.m., Pacific StandardDaylight Time, or any adjournment (the "Meeting"). Only holders of record of the Company's Common Stock at the close of business on January 30, 2003,February 9, 2004, will be entitled to vote at the Meeting. At the close of business on that date, the Company had 24,578,98624,269,290 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote. A majority, or 12,289,494,12,134,646, of these shares, present in person or by proxy at the Meeting, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. This Proxy Statement and the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2002,2003, are being mailed to each stockholder on or about February 28, 2003.March 5, 2004.

Revocability of Proxy

        A stockholder who has given a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is exercised at the Meeting, by (1) delivering to the Secretary of the Company (by any means, including facsimile) a written notice stating that the proxy is revoked, (2) signing and so delivering a proxy bearing a later date or (3) attending the Meeting and voting in person (although attendance at the Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy). If, however, a stockholder's shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and that stockholder wishes to vote at the Meeting, the stockholder must bring to the Meeting a letter from the broker, bank or other nominee confirming the stockholder's beneficial ownership of the shares to be voted.

Expenses of Proxy Solicitation

        The expenses of this solicitation of proxies will be paid by the Company. Following the original mailing of this Proxy Statement and other soliciting materials, the Company or its agents may also solicit proxies by mail, telephone or facsimile or in person.

Voting Rights

        The holders of the Company's Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share on any matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders, except that, subject to certain conditions, stockholders may cumulate their votes in the election of directors, and each stockholder may give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of shares held by such stockholder or may distribute such stockholder's votes on the same principle among as many candidates as such stockholder thinks fit. No stockholder will be entitled, however, to cumulate votes (that is, cast for any nominee a number of votes greater than the number of votes that the stockholder normally is entitled to cast) unless the nominees' names have been placed in nomination prior to the voting and the stockholder gives notice at the Meeting prior to the voting of the stockholder's intention to cumulate the stockholder's votes. If any one stockholder gives such notice, all stockholders may cumulate their votes for nominees. In the election of directors, the nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of the shares entitled to be voted for them up to the

1



number of directors to be elected by such shares are elected. Votes against a nominee and votes withheld have no legal effect.

1


        The Board of Directors expects all nominees named below to be available for election. In case any nominee is not available, the proxy holders may vote for a substitute. The Company knows of no specific matter to be brought before the Meeting that is not identified in the notice of the Meeting or this Proxy Statement. If, however, proposals of stockholders that are not included in this Proxy Statement are presented at the Meeting, the proxies will be voted in the discretion of the proxy holders. Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission permit the proxies solicited by this Proxy Statement to confer discretionary authority with respect to matters of which the Company is not aware a reasonable time before the Meeting. Accordingly, the proxy holders may use their discretionary authority to vote with respect to any such matter pursuant to the proxies solicited hereby.

        Directors will be elected at the Meeting by a plurality of the votes cast at the Meeting by the holders of shares represented in person or by proxy. Approval of Proposals Nos. 2 3 and 43 will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting by the holders of shares represented in person or by proxy. Abstentions and broker nonvotes are counted as shares present for determination of a quorum but are not counted as affirmative or negative votes on any item to be voted upon and are not counted in determining the number of shares voted on any item.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

        The following table sets forth certain information, as of January 30, 2003,February 9, 2004, unless otherwise indicated, with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by (1) each stockholder known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock, (2) each director and director nominee, (3) each person currently serving as an executive officer of the Company named in the Summary Compensation Table (see "Executive Compensation" below), and (4) all current executive officers and directors of the Company as a group.

Name and, for Each 5%
Beneficial Owner, Address

 Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership(1)

 Percent
of Class

 
Barclay Simpson(2)
4120 Dublin Blvd., Suite 400
Dublin, CA 94568
 7,043,171 28.7%

Neuberger Berman, LLC(3)
605 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10158

 

2,060,061

 

8.4

%

Royce & Associates, Inc. and Royce Management Company(4)
1414 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019

 

1,816,500

 

7.4

%

Thomas J Fitzmyers(5)

 

487,436

 

2.0

%

Stephen B. Lamson(6)

 

114,194

 

*

 

Donald M. Townsend(7)

 

32,806

 

*

 

Earl F. Cheit(8)

 

5,000

 

*

 

Peter N. Louras, Jr.(9)

 

6,000

 

*

 

Sunne Wright McPeak(10)

 

3,000

 

*

 

Barry Lawson Williams(11)

 

2,000

 

*

 

Michael J. Herbert

 


 

*

 

All current executive officers and directors as a group(12)

 

7,693,607

 

31.2

%
Name and, for Each 5% Beneficial Owner, Address

 Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership(1)

 Percent
of Class

 
Barclay Simpson(2)
4120 Dublin Blvd., Suite 400
Dublin, CA 94568
 5,340,581 22.0%

Neuberger Berman, LLC(3)
605 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10158

 

2,036,409

 

8.4

%

Royce & Associates, Inc.
and Royce Management Company(4)
1414 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019

 

2,035,300

 

8.4

%

Thomas J Fitzmyers(5)

 

382,936

 

1.6

%

Stephen B. Lamson(6)

 

106,944

 

*

 

Stephen P. Eberhard(7)

 

63,815

 

*

 

Donald M. Townsend(8)

 

17,029

 

*

 

Michael J. Herbert(9)

 

13,750

 

*

 

Jennifer A. Chatman

 


 

*

 

Earl F. Cheit(10)

 

5,000

 

*

 

Peter N. Louras, Jr.(11)

 

6,500

 

*

 

Robin G. MacGillivray

 


 

*

 

Barry Lawson Williams(12)

 

3,000

 

*

 

All current executive officers and directors as a group(13)

 

5,939,555

 

24.4

%

*
Less than 1%0.5%

(1)
The information in this table is based upon information supplied by officers and directors, and, with respect to principal stockholders, statements on Schedule 13D or 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless otherwise indicated below, the persons named in the table had sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned, subject to community property laws where applicable.

(2)
Includes 1,7501,250 shares subject to options granted under the 1994 Stock Option Plan that are exercisable within 60 days.

(3)
Neuberger Berman, LLC ("Neuberger") is a registered investment advisor. In its capacity as investment advisor, Neuberger may have discretionary authority to dispose of or to vote shares that

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate as of this Plan is found not to be in compliance with Rule 16b-3, that provision shall be deemed to have been amended or deleted as and to the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3, and the remaining provisions of the Plan shall continue in full force and effect, without change. All transactions under the Plan shall be executed in accordance with the requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.April 7, 2004.





Michael J. Herbert
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

B-8A-1





PROXY

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
SIMPSON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.

The undersigned hereby appoints Barclay Simpson and Thomas J Fitzmyers, and each of them, attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to vote on behalf of the undersigned all shares of the common stock of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on March 31, 2003,April 7, 2004, at 4120 Dublin Blvd., Suite 400, Dublin, California, and at all adjournments thereof, hereby revoking any proxy heretofore given with respect to such common stock, and the undersigned authorizes and instructs said proxies to vote as indicated on the reverse side hereof. The shares represented by this proxy will be voted as directed, or if directions are not indicated, will be voted for the election as directors of some or all of the persons listed on this proxy, in the manner described in the proxy statement. This proxy confers on the proxyholders the power of cumulative voting and the power to vote cumulatively for fewer than all of the nominees as described in such proxy statement.






SEE REVERSE
SIDE
(CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON THE REVERSE SIDE)SEE REVERSE
SIDE



 
  
  
  

 
Vote by Telephone Vote by Internet

 
It's fast, convenient, and immediate!
Call Toll-Free on a Touch-Tone Phone
1-877-PRX-VOTE (1-877-779-8683)
 It's fast, convenient, and your vote is immediately confirmed and posted.


Follow these four easy steps:

 


Follow these four easy steps:
1. Read the accompanying Proxy Statement and Proxy Card. 1. Read the accompanying Proxy Statement and Proxy Card.

2.

 

Call the toll-free number
1-877-PRX-VOTE (1-877-779-8683)

 

2.

 

Go to the Website
http://www.eproxyvote.com/ssd

3.

 

Enter your 14-digit Voter Control Number located on you Proxy Card above your name.

 

3.

 

Enter your 14-digit Voter Control Number located on you Proxy Card above your name.

4.

 

Follow the recorded instructions.

 

4.

 

Follow the instructions provided.



 



Your vote is important!
Call
1-877-PRX-VOTE anytime!

 

Your vote is important!
Go to
http://www.eproxyvote.com/ssd anytime!

Vote by Telephone

It's fast, convenient, and immediate!
Call Toll-Free on a Touch-Tone Phone
1-877-PRX-VOTE (1-877-779-8683)

Follow these four easy steps:

1.
Read the accompanying Proxy Statement and Proxy Card.

2.
Call the toll-free number
1-877-PRX-VOTE (1-877-779-8683)

3.
Enter your 14-digit Voter Control Number located on you Proxy Card above your name.

4.
Follow the recorded instructions.

Your vote is important!
Call
1-877-PRX-VOTE anytime!

Vote by Internet

It's fast, convenient, and your vote is immediately confirmed and posted.

Follow these four easy steps:

1.
Read the accompanying Proxy Statement and Proxy Card.

2.
Go to the Website
http://www.eproxyvote.com/ssd

3.
Enter your 14-digit Voter Control Number located on you Proxy Card above your name.

4.
Follow the recorded instructions.

Your vote is important!
Go to
http://www.eproxyvote.com/ssd anytime!

Do not return your Proxy Card if you are voting by Telephone or Internet

DETACH HERE


ý
Please mark votes as in this example

The Board of Directors recommends a voteFOR both of the nominees in proposal 1, and a voteFOR for proposals 2 3, and 4.3.

Unless otherwise specified, this proxy will be voted for allboth of the nominees listed below as directors and for proposals 2 and 3, and 4,and will be voted in the discretion of the proxies on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Such other matters are not related.

 
  
  
  
 FOR

 AGAINST

 ABSTAIN


1.

 

Election of Directors to serve for three-year terms
Nominees:    (01) Barclay Simpson, and
                      (02) Sunne Wright McPeak

 

2.

 

Approval of the Executive Officers Cash Profit Sharing Plan

 

o

 

o

 

o

 

 

FOR                                         WITHHOLD
ALL                    o        o      FROM ALL
NOMINEES           ��                NOMINEES

 

3.

 

Approval of amended 1994 Stock Option Plan to limit the number of shares granted to an individual to 150,000 per year

 

o

 

o

 

o

 

 

o

INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that nominee's name in the space provided above.)

 

4.

 

Ratification of selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants

 

o

 

o

 

o

 

 

 

 

MARK HERE FOR ADRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT    o

 

 

 

 

IF VOTING BY MAIL, PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE
(Please sign exactly as name appears, at left, indicating title or representative capacity, where applicable)
Signature:1.Election of Directors to serve for three-year terms
Nominees:(01) Stephen B. Lamson, and
(02) Peter N. Louras, Jr.
oFOR ALL NOMINEES   Date:
oWITHHOLD FROM ALL NOMINEES   Signature:
o
(INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write that nominee's name in the space provided above.)
   Date:FOR 
AGAINST 
ABSTAIN
2. Approval of the amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance from 40,000,000 to 80,000,000 
o
 o o

3.


Ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants


o


o


o

MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT


o

IF VOTING BY MAIL, PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE
(Please sign exactly as name appears, at left, indicating title or representative capacity, where applicable)

Signature:




 

Date:

 




Signature:





Date:






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SIMPSON MANUFACTURING CO., INC. 4120 Dublin Blvd., Suite 400 Dublin, California 94568 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
SIMPSON MANUFACTURING CO., INC. 4120 Dublin Blvd., Suite 400 Dublin, California 94568 February 28, 2003March 5, 2004 PROXY STATEMENT
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
PROPOSAL NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
PROPOSAL NO. 2 APPROVAL OF THE COMPANY'S EXECUTIVE OFFICER CASH PROFIT SHARING PLANINCREASE IN AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK
PROPOSAL NO. 3 APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT OF THE SIMPSON MANUFACTURING CO., INC. 1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN
PROPOSAL NO. 4 RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTSAUDITORS
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND DECEMBER 31, 2002, OPTION/SAR VALUES
OTHER BUSINESS
DISCLAIMER REGARDING INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF THE REPORTS OF THE AUDIT AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEES AND THE STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF SIMPSON MANUFACTURING CO., INC. EXECUTIVE OFFICER CASH PROFIT SHARING PLAN
EXHIBIT B SIMPSON MANUFACTURING CO., INC. 1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN Adopted February 23, 1994 and Amended through October 21, 2002
PROXY THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SIMPSON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.